Restorative Justice

    Cards (18)

    • What is the definition of restorative justice?
      System dealing with criminal behavior
    • What is the primary focus of restorative justice?
      Rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation
    • How does restorative justice enable offenders to repair harm?
      By helping them understand the impact of their crime
    • How does restorative justice empower victims?
      By giving them a voice in the process
    • What are the key features for the effectiveness of restorative justice?
      • Active engagement from offender, victim, and community
      • Voluntary participation for all parties
      • Respectful and non-degrading interactions
    • What type of communication may a victim have with the offender?
      Writing a letter to the victim
    • What is one way victims can interact with offenders in restorative justice?
      Face-to-face or video conference meetings
    • Under what condition may restorative justice be offered instead of a prison sentence?
      If the victim has agreed to it
    • What is a key theory behind restorative justice?
      Victim seeking reparation and offender taking responsibility
    • What is one aim of restorative justice regarding the rehabilitation of offenders?
      Victims explain the impact of the crime
    • How should restorative justice affect an offender's future behavior?
      It should promote understanding and responsibility
    • What does atonement for wrongdoing involve for offenders?
      Showing compensation and remorse
    • How does restorative justice help offenders develop empathy?
      By allowing victims to express their distress
    • What is the effect of restorative justice on a victim's sense of power?
      Victims feel less powerless and have a voice
    • How might a victim's understanding of the offender's story change through restorative justice?
      It may reduce their feelings of victimization
    • Restorative Justice AO3 - Effectiveness
      • Victims find it beneficial - UK Restorative Justice Council (2015): report a 85% satisfaction from victims in face-to-face meetings with their offenders
      • These reports of victim satisfaction cover a range of crimes from theft to violent crime
      • Victims also claim a greater sense of satisfaction than when cases go through mainstream courts.
      • Suggests that RJ achieves some of its aims and helps survivors deal and cope with the aftermath of the incident
    • Restorative Justice AO3 - Lower recidivism
      • RJ reduces reoffending and thus reduces crime rates.
      • Research indicates that the aim of reducing reoffending has been achieved through RJ.
      • Sherman and Strang reviewed 20 studies of face-to-face meetings between offender and victim in the US, UK and Australia.
      • They found that all of the studies showed reduced reoffending, and none were linked to higher reoffending
      • This suggests that RJ has a positive impact on re-offending, possibly more so than other approaches
    • Restorative Justice AO3 - Abuse of system
      • Success for RJ is based on offenders honourable intentions, genuine regret and wanting to make amends
      • However, research has suggested that offenders may use RJ for other reasons like avoiding punishment and playing down their fault
      • This may explain why not all offenders benefit from RJ and go on to re-offend